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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADRIEN GAGON, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

BLASTlNG-POWDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,824. dated March31, 1885.

Application filed March 15,1884. (No specimens.) Patented in BelgiumNovember 21, 1883, No. 46,269, and in France November 22, 1883, No.146,346.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADRIEN GACON, of Paris, France,have invented a newand Improved Explosive Compoundyof which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved explosivecompound which has the explosive force of dynamite, but has none of thedefects or dangerous properties of dynamite.

My improved explosive compound consists of a mixture of powdered nitrateof potash,

six thousand nine hundred parts, by weight;

flowers of sulphur, one thousand nine hundred parts, by weight; ashes,one thousand two hundred parts, by weight; tannin, two hundred parts, byweight.

The nitrate of potash and the sulphur are thoroughly mixed, and then theashes are added and thoroughly mixed with the above ingredients. Theashes used must contain large quantities of soda or potash. I prefer touse the ashes of decayed or partly decayed leaves. The tannin isdissolved in water and then well filtered, and is preferably preparedtwenty-four. hours before mixing it with the other ingredients. I preferto obtain the tanmin by making a decoction of bark or wood containingthe tanninfor instance, the bark of the chestnut or oak. The barks alsocontain resin, which greatly improves the explosive compound.

In place of the nitrate of potash, nitrate of soda may be used. In placeof tannin, sumac may be used.

Some of the ingredients can be dispensed with 5 but then the explosiveforce of the powder will be decreased.

The proportions may be varied; but I prefer those given.

The compound is always cold. It ignites and explodes at 480 centigrade,(996 Fahrenheit.) It cannot be ignited or exploded by a shock. It hasvery great explosive force.

I am aware that an explosive compound has heretofore been compounded ofsulphur, chloride of sodium, nitrate of sodium, tannic acid, sulphuricacid, and sawdust, and I do not claim any such composition. The ashes inmy compound have an entirely-different effect from the sawdust, as thesawdust contains only the same substances that are contained in thewood, and if there are any salts they are combined and not free. On theother hand, in the ashes is found a hygrometric substance composed ofinsoluble substances, and serving to" keep the powder dry by absorbingthe moisture at the moment of deflagration, and salts of soda and ofpotash are also found. In the presence of the tannin these salts arechanged to tannate of soda and tannate of potash. Tannates are saltswhich are easily decomposed. When the powder is ignited, a largequantity of'nitric acid is freed in a nascent state and it instantlytransforms the tannates of soda and potash into nitrates of the same.Thus with ashes, a valueless product in itself, we add a new force whichcannot be accomplished with sawdust.

Having thus described my invention,I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- An explosive compound consisting of a mixture ofnitrate of potash or nitrate of soda, sulphur, ashes, and tannin,substantially as herein described.

The foregoing specification of my improvement in explosive powderssigned by me this 9th day of January, 1884.

ADRIEN GAGON.

Witnesses:

A. E. OAVERNIER, M. LAFONTAINE.

